Pressure water system



July 4, 1961 E s 2,990,778

PRESSURE WATER SYSTEM Filed Oct. 28, 195'? 42 4/ Infl w/07 United States Patent 2,990,778 PRESSURE WATER SYSTEM Elmer M. Deters, Davenport, Iowa, assignor to Red Jacket Manufacturing Co., Davenport, Iowa, a corporation of as shown in the of the tank, and a different tank constructed and arranged to permit upright or vertical mounting of the tank. This required the dealer to stock two different tanks in each of the different sizes thereof and effectively doubled the required stock for each of the different tank sizes. Moreover, if the pumps were pre-assembled on the tanks at the factory, it is apparent that the number of pumps in stock would also be effectively doubled. On the other hand, if the pumps were shipped separate from the tanks to permit use of one pump for either a horizontal or a vertical tank, then the dealer or the installer 21 adapted must make all the connections required between the tank and pump, thus increasing the complexity and expense of installation.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved tank construction adapted to have a pump mounted directly thereon and hydraulically connected thereto, and which tank is arranged to enable mounting of the same in either a horizontal or an upright position without requiring any changes in the pump mounting or in the hydraulic connections between the pump and tank.

A more particular object of this invention is to provide a pump and tank unit in which the pump is mounted on one side of the tank, intermediate the ends thereof,

and means is provided in the tank for communicating the outlet of the pump with the interior of the tank, adjacent one end of the latter and at the side thereof opposite the side to which the pump is attached, so as to thereby enable operation of the pump and tank unit in either a horizontal or in an upright position.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a pump unit, in accordance with the foregoing object, in which the air volume control is mounted on the tank in a position such that the air volume control maintains approximately the same amount of air within independent of whether the tank is in a horizontal or in an upright position.

These, together with various ancillary objects and advantages of this invention will be more readily apprespecific embodiment shown,

wall 12 having a domed head 13 at one end thereof and a concave head 14 at the other end thereof so that the tank terminates, at the last mentioned end, in a flat rim 12a adapted to support the tank in an upright position.

The pump 11 is mounted on the side of the tank and,

drawings, is attached to a generally U- shaped mounting bracket 16 which is welded or otherwise n'gidly secured to the side walls 12 of the tank, intermediate the ends of the latter. The pump -11 may be of any conventional construction suitable for operation in either a horizontal or a vertical position, and, in the there is provided an injector type pump including a centrifugal pump 18 and an injector 19. The centrifugal pump is driven by an electric motor 20 fastened to the housing of the pump 18 to be supported thereby. The centrifugal pump has an inlet for connection to a source of supply and an outlet connection 22 (see FIG. 2.), through which the water under pressure is discharged. As is conventional, the injector 19 is connected to the pump inlet 21, to increase the'pressure at the suction side thereof, and a portion of the fluid from the centrifugal pump is passed through a fitting 24 to the nozzle (not shown) of the injector. As is apparent, the injector '19 may either be mounted closely adjacent the centrifugal pump 18 or remotely therefrom adjacent or in the well, as desired. The inlet of the injector 19 is connected through a conduit 25 to the well.

It has heretofore been the practice to provide one tank having legs on the side thereof and fittings arranged as to enable mounting of the tank and pump unit in a horizontal position and to provide a different tank having fittings arranged to enable mounting of the tank and pump in an upright position. In accordance with the present invention, a pipe is operatively connected to the outlet of the pump and arranged to extend into the tank to communicate with the interior of the latter adjacent the end wall 14 and at the side of the tank opposite the side at which the pump is mounted so that the end of the pipe is located adjacent the lowermost portion of the tank, when the tank is in either a horizontal or in an upright position. More specifically, a pipe 31 is afiixed to the tank side wall 12 at a point laterally offset from the pump 18 and extends alongside the pump as is clearly shown in FIGURES l and 2. The outer end of the pipe 31 is connected through a shut-off valve 32 and a the tank ciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the pumping unit shown mounted in a horizontal position;

FIGURE 2 is atransverse sectional view through the tank, taken on the plane 2-2 of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the pumping unit shown mounted in an upright position.

The pumping unit, as is conventional, includes a reservoir tank 10 and a pump 11. In accordance with the present invention, the pump and tank are constructed and the pump mounted on the tank in such a manner as to enable the pumping unit to be mounted in either a horizontal or an upright position. More particularly, the tank 10 is conveniently formed with a cylindrical flexible coupling 33 to a T-fitting 34. The T-fitting is connected through a conduit 35 to the outlet 22 of the pump. In addition, a service conduit 36 is connected to the T-fitting 34 to receive liquid either directly fro-m the pump 18 or from the tank 10. The portion 31a of the pipe 31 is angulated with respect to the external portion of that pipe and extends obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the tank, as show in FIGURES l and 2, to a point closely adjacent the end wall 14 and at the side of the tank 10 diametrically opposite the side to which the pump is attached. Consequently, liquid can be introduced and withdrawn from the tank at a point closely adjacent the bottom thereof, when the tank is in either a horizontal or an upright position. The shutoff valve 32 is normally open so that liquid will flow into the tank, when the pump is operated, and out of the tank when the supply line 36 is opened to dispense liquid.

In order to support the tank and pump, in either of the positions thereof, there are provided a pair of saddles 41 including an arcuate strap portion 42 adapted to engage the arcuate side walls 12 of the tank, and depending leg portions 43 adapted to support the tank in a horizontal position. The saddles '41 are formed separate from the tank so as to permit detaching the same from the side walls when the tank is in an upright position as shown in FIGURE 3. Conveniently, the saddles 41 can be laid upon their sides, as shown in FIGURE 3, below the flat lower rim 12a of the tank, to support the tankin spaced relation to the floor.

Provision is also made for controlling the volume of air in the tank to maintain a preselected volume of air therein, when the tank is in either a horizontal or in an upright position. For this purpose, an air volume control 45 is mounted on the side of the tank at a point which is axially spaced from the domed end 13'and circumferentially spaced from the side of the tank at which the pump is mounted, so that the air volume control maintains approximately the same amount of air in the tank when the latter is in either a horizontal or in an upright position. In other words, the air volume control 45 is positioned on the tank so that the volume of air in the tank above the air volume control, when the tank is in a horizontal position as shown in FIGURE 1, is substantially the same as the volume of air in the tank above the air volume control, when the tank is in an upright position as shown in FIGURE 3.

The specific air volume control herein illustrated is of the diaphragm type and is of conventional construction. In general, the air volume control includes a housing 46 separated by a diaphragm 47 into separate compartments. One compartment has an air snifter valve 48 therein and communicates through a restricted opening 49 with the interior of the tank. The other compartment has a spring 51 therein and is communicated through a tube 52 to the suction side of the pump 18. Briefly, this type of air volume control Will function when the pump 18 is operated to draw in a charge of air through the air snifter valve 48, if the liquid level in the tank 10 is above the orifice 49, and to discharge this charge of air into the tank when the operation of the pump is interrupted, to thereby increase the volume of air in the tank. However, if the liquid level in the tank is at or below the orifice 49, then the air volume control will merely draw in a charge of air from the tank and discharge this air back into the tank so as to not increase the volume of air therein.

As is conventional in pumping units of this type, the pump motor is automatically energized and deenergized in accordance with the pressure in the system. For this purpose, there is provided a pressure switch 54, herein shown mounted on the motor 20, and which pressure switch is connected through a tube 55 with the discharge side of the pump 18. As previously described, the discharge side of the pump is connected through the pipe 35, T fitting 34, resilient fitting 33 and pipe 31 to the tank. Consequently, the pressure switch is operated in accordance with the pressure within the tank and is arranged to initiate operation of the pump when the pres- Sure within the tank decreases to a preselected lower pressure and to interrupt operation of the pump when the pressure within the tank increases to a preselected upper pressure limit.

The valve 32 is provided for maintaining the pressure in the tank, should it be necessary to service the pump, to thereby provide a supply of liquid under pressure for repriming the centrifugal pump.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the tank is constructed and the pump and air volume control attached thereto in such a manner as to enable mounting of the tank in either a horizontal or in an upright position. The pump unit is mounted on the side of the tank intermediate the ends thereof so as not to interfere with the mounting of the tank in a horizontal or vertical position and the pipe 31 is arranged to communicate with the interior of the tank adjacent the lower portion thereof when the tank is horizontal or vertical. In addition, the air volume control 45 is positioned on the tank so as to maintain substantially the same volume of air in the tank, when the tank is either horizontal or vertical. It is only necessary to turn the air volume control through approximately 90 from the position shown in FIGURE 1 to the position shown in FIGURE 3, when changing from a horizontal to an upright installation. The saddles 41 are removable from the side walls when the tank is in its upright position, and may, if desired, be used to support the tank in spaced relation to the floor, as shown in FIGURE 3.

I claim:

A pumping unit comprising an elongated cylindrical tank, means for mounting the tank in a horizontal or in an upright position on one end thereof, a pump including a motor mounted on one side of said tank intermediate the ends thereof, said pump having an inlet adapted for connection to a well and an outlet, a pipe extending into the side of said tank at a point intermediate the ends thereof and adjacent said pump, said pipe extending inside said tank and terminating at the inner end thereof adjacent said one end of said tank and at the side thereof diametrically opposite the side on which said pump is mounted, conduit means connecting said pump outlet to the outer end of said pipe to deliver water to the tank when the pump is operated, a service conduit communicating with said pump outlet and with the outer end of said pipe to permit water to flow from said pump and from said tank to said service outlet when the tank is in either a horizontal or an upright position, and an air volume control mounted on the side of said tank at a point spaced from said one end thereof and angularly spaced from the side of said tank at which the inner end of said pipe terminates to effect control of the amount of air in the tank and maintain approximately the same amount of air in the tank when the latter is in either a horizontal or an upright position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 21,893 Horvath Sept. 2, 1941 563,829 Wilbraham July 14, 1896 1,600,526 Wilbur Sept. 21, 1926 1,941,766 Thom Jan. 2, 1934 2,215,815 Hartmann Sept. 24, 1940 2,440,611 Mann Apr. 27, 1948 2,709,964 Brady June 7, 1955 2,765,963 Langguth Oct. 9, 1956 2,800,860 Heath July 30, 1957 2,824,424 Sebenick Feb. 25, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 430,468 Great Britain June 19, 1935 

